NYC child care vouchers help families cover the cost of child care when household income is at or below 85% of the State Median Income and at least one qualifying “reason for care” applies to every parent in the home. The NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) runs the program for most families, while the Human Resources Administration (HRA) handles vouchers for families on cash assistance. One important caveat before you apply: as of mid-2025, ACS paused issuing new vouchers to eligible families who are not on cash assistance and is placing them on a waitlist instead.1Administration for Children’s Services. ACS – Apply for Child Care Families already receiving vouchers keep them and should recertify on schedule.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility has two parts, and you need both.
The income test looks at your household’s total gross income, including earnings, child support, Social Security, and unemployment. The cap is 85% of the State Median Income.2New York State Senate. New York Code SOS 410-W – Eligible Families Current annual limits:
- 2 people: $77,226
- 3 people: $95,397
- 4 people: $113,568
Your household’s liquid assets also cannot exceed $1 million.3Legal Information Institute. New York Codes Rules and Regulations Title 18 415.2 – Eligibility, Guarantees Vouchers cover children from 6 weeks old through age 12 (ending when the child turns 13), or up to age 19 for children with documented disabilities.4Growing Up NYC. Child Care Vouchers
The second part is a reason for care. You have to need child care because you cannot provide it yourself. Qualifying reasons include:
- Working, with earnings that meet or exceed required hours times the state minimum wage.
- Enrolled in education or training that leads to employment. Two-year programs have a 48-month time limit; four-year students must maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Living in a shelter or temporary housing while job searching, in school, or looking for permanent housing.
- Receiving cash assistance and participating in HRA work activities.
- Receiving ACS preventive or protective services.
If there are two parents in the household, each one has to independently meet a reason for care.3Legal Information Institute. New York Codes Rules and Regulations Title 18 415.2 – Eligibility, Guarantees
Who Skips the Waitlist
The waitlist applies to families who are not on cash assistance. Several groups are routed around it:
- Families on cash assistance apply through their HRA Benefits Access Center. These vouchers are funded separately.5NYC Human Resources Administration. Child Care Benefits
- Families in shelter or temporary housing have priority access. Select “Homelessness” as the reason for care and submit the housing questionnaire with your other documents.1Administration for Children’s Services. ACS – Apply for Child Care
- Families involved with ACS prevention or protective services, and foster parents, are referred by their caseworker directly to the ACS Division of Child and Family Well-Being.
- Families who recently left cash assistance because of a job or income increase may qualify for one year of Transitional Child Care. Contact CFWB.TCC@acs.nyc.gov.
How to Apply
Most families apply online through the MyCity portal at mycity.nyc.gov. You create an account, complete the application (form CFWB-012), and upload your documents. The portal lets you track status after you submit.1Administration for Children’s Services. ACS – Apply for Child Care Don’t also mail a paper copy, because duplicates slow processing.
If you’d rather apply by mail, send the completed CFWB-012 and supporting documents to: NYC Children – EDU, PO Box 40, Maplewood, NJ 07040.1Administration for Children’s Services. ACS – Apply for Child Care
Families on cash assistance don’t use either of those routes. Go through your HRA Benefits Access Center.6ACCESS NYC. Child Care Vouchers
What to Gather Before You Start
Every section of the form has to be filled in, and your reported weekly hours and monthly gross income need to match your supporting documents. Have these ready:
- Government-issued photo ID and proof of NYC residency (utility bill or lease).
- Social Security numbers for everyone in the household.
- Recent pay stubs for all employed adults, or a letter from the employer on company letterhead. Self-employed applicants should bring tax returns or prior-year business records.
- If your reason for care is school, an official class schedule from your registrar showing enrolled hours, including labs or internships.
- If you’re in temporary housing, a completed housing questionnaire.
Incomplete applications are a common reason for delay. Confirm you’ve addressed every item before submitting.7NYC Administration for Children’s Services. Application for Child Care Assistance
After You Apply
An eligibility determination typically takes 10 to 15 days once ACS has your complete application. You may get a phone interview to clarify income or scheduling. The written decision arrives by mail or through MyCity and explains the specific reasons behind an approval or denial. Missing documents or mismatched income figures can push the timeline back, so watch the portal for requests.
The Family Co-Pay
A voucher usually doesn’t cover the full cost. You’ll owe a family share based on income and household size, paid directly to your provider.6ACCESS NYC. Child Care Vouchers Lower incomes mean lower co-pays, and families at the bottom of the scale may owe nothing. Your approval notice states the exact amount. Falling behind on the co-pay can lead the provider to drop your child from the program, so build it into your budget before you choose a provider.
Choosing a Provider
Only providers approved to accept subsidy payments can receive your voucher. Licensed or registered providers must hold a current permit from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and must separately enroll with ACS using a W-9 and a copy of their license.8Administration for Children’s Services. ACS – Become a Voucher Provider
Legally exempt providers (relatives, neighbors, informal caregivers) can also be paid, but only after completing a legally exempt enrollment form that you sign as the parent. For families on cash assistance, those forms go to the HRA Job Center instead of ACS.8Administration for Children’s Services. ACS – Become a Voucher Provider
Keeping the Voucher: Recertification
An approved voucher is valid for at least 12 months, and districts may extend eligibility periods to as long as 24 months if income stays below 85% of SMI.2New York State Senate. New York Code SOS 410-W – Eligible Families Before your period ends, ACS mails a recertification packet with a deadline. You resubmit updated income proof and verification that your qualifying activity continues, through MyCity or by mail.
Miss the deadline and your child care assistance ends, which means you owe the full cost of care.1Administration for Children’s Services. ACS – Apply for Child Care Treat it like a bill due date. Also report significant changes in income or household size as they happen rather than waiting for recertification; unreported changes can trigger overpayment recovery.
If You’re Denied or Terminated
The decision notice will state the reason. You have two ways to challenge it.
A conference is an informal review by ACS. Call the CFWB Call Center at 212-835-7610 to schedule one. This can be the faster route when the problem was missing paperwork you now have.9Administration for Children’s Services. Support for Families With Vouchers
A fair hearing is a formal appeal through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. You must request it within 60 days of the notice date. Call 800-323-3334, submit the request online through OTDA, or mail a written request to the New York State Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Box 1930, Albany, New York 12201-1930. If you want benefits to continue while the hearing is pending, you generally need to request the hearing within 10 days of the notice date.9Administration for Children’s Services. Support for Families With Vouchers